Transformable footwear

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to an article of footwear which may be transformed simply by substituting one of its elements. The shoe comprises three independent elements, constituted by a bottom comprising a wearing sole and a heel, an inner shoe assembly comprising an insole connected to a complete lining, and an outer dressing chosen from a series created for its variety, this outer dressing comprising a visible upper extended by a lower inset part to enable it to be fitted on the inner shoe assembly; projecting tongues belonging to the insole may be engaged in slots in the upper surface of the bottom to ensure the temporary but firm connection of this latter with the inner shoe assembly covered by the outer dressing. The invention is applicable to any article of foot wear.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 Milotic Nov. 12, 1974 l l TRANSFORMABLEFOOTWEAR Primary Examiner-PatriclcD. Lawson [76] Inventor; Mm Mimic, 15,Avenue Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Alvin @nderbrafil, E8211, Montaigne,94170 Le Perreux, Levwls Eshnger France v 22 Filed: Nov. 8, 1973 [57]ABSTRACT This. invention relates to an article of footwear which [2]]Appl' 413883 may be transformed simply by substituting one of its 1elements. The shoe comprises three independent ele- [30] ForeignApplication Priority Data ments, constituted by a bottom comprising awearing Aug, 21 1973 France 73.30327 Sole and heel an inner shoeassembly Comprising an insole connected to a complete lining, and anouter [52] US. Cl 36/2.5 W dressing chosen from a Series Created forits-variety 51 Int. Cl. A43b this Outer (658mg Comprising a visible PPer[58] Field Of Search 36/2.5 R, 25 w, 2.5 c ended by a lower inset P toenable it to be fitted the inner shoe assembly; projecting tonguesbelonging to the insole may be engaged in slots in the upper surface ofthe bottom to ensure the temporary but firm References Clted connectionof this latter with the inner shoe assembly UNITED STATES PATENTScovered by the outer dressing. The invention is appli- 2,552.943 5 1951Danielius 36/25 w Cable to y article'of fool-Wear- 2,873,540 2/1959 Murh 36/25 C 3,686,779 8/1972 Sach si 36/25 w 6 Clams 3 DrawmgTRANSFORMABLE FOOTWEAR The present invention relates to a shoe that maybe transformed simply by substituting one of its elements.

Its object is to make it possible for the client to buy one pair ofshoes only and, inspite of this, to be able to change its appearance byvarying its form, colour, nature of covering, etc., simply bysubstituting one of the elements of each shoe by another element, by amanoeuvre which anyone could carry out.

Another object is to conserve for each shoe on the one hand its usualdimensions without exaggerating certain of them, for example thethickness of the sole and on the other hand its comfort and suppleness,particularly at the shank.

To achieve these ends and in accordance with the invention, the shoecomprises three independent components constituted by:

- a bottom comprising a wearing sole and a heel an inner shoe assemblycomprising an insole integral with a complete lining and an outerdressing chosen from a series created for its variety, this outerdressing comprising a visible upper which is extended by a lower insetpart to enable it to be fitted on the inner shoe assembly, dismountableconnecting means being provided between the insole and the bottom.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the insole of theinner shoe assembly is integral with three thin tongues located at theheel, waist and front respectively, the first two being directedrearwardly and the third frontwardly, whilst the bottom defines threehousings accessible on its upper surface by three slots for receivingthe tongues of the inner shoe assembly by bending said latter downwardlyat both ends.

According to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment, the tongues arecut, so as to project slightly, from a resistant but flexible sheet,preferably made of steel, fixed beneath the insole of the inner shoeassembly; another sheet, preferably of the same nature, is fixed to thebottom 'so that the slots that its presents are located above recessesmade in this bottom for giving access to the above-mentioned housingsfor the tongues; the upper of the outer dressing is integral with asupple bottom having windows for the passage of the tongues of the innershoe assembly.

This particular structure of the shoe presents numerous otheradvantages.

In particular, being given, on the one hand, that the dressing is theonly support for the variation of the models and on the other hand thatthis dressing is relatively inexpensive, the consumers may follow thefashion and adapt their shoes to their attire without involving toomanyexpenses.

In addition, the care of the shoe is limited to the minimum, it is notexpensive to replace this dressing, and shoe-mending costs are reduced.

Moreover, the shoe is perfectly water-tight since there is a gap betweenthe bottom and the insole of the inner shoe assembly.

The invention will be more readily understood on reading the followingnon-limiting description given with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 to 3 are perspective views shown synoptically with respect toeach other and illustrating the various elements constituting the shoe.

The shoe is composed of three independent elements: a bottom 1, an innershoe assembly 2 and a dressing 3.

The bottom 1 (FIG. 3), whatever its mode of manufacture and nature ofthe material used (leather, rubber, synthetic material, etc.), presentsa sole 4 and a heel 5, a shank (not shown in the drawing being in thisexample incorporated in said bottom.)

The inner shoe assembly 2 (FIG. 1) which may be made of skin orbreathable synthetic material, comprises a lining 6 integral with aninsole 7. Of course, for this inner shoe assembly to take the shape ofthe foot perfectly, but still to be easily pulled on, it is provided atthe instep with a facing made of elastic material.

The bottom 1 and the inner shoe assembly 2 must be connected by meanssuch that they permit any later dismantling, on condition that saiddismantling be voluntary, but which conserve the usual qualities ofcomfort and movement of a shoe and which cannot accidentally come apartparticularly when the foot is bent.

In the example shown, a strip 8 (FIG. 1) is interposed between theinsole 7 and an edge 9 obtained by folding back the lining 6; the strip8 is connected to the edge 9 and the insole 8 by gluing and by means ofrivets l0 and possibly by parts 11 made of the same material as theinner shoe assembly.

Similarly, the upper surface of the bottom 1 is connected by rivets 12to a steel strip 13 (FIG. 3).

To ensure that the inner shoe assembly 2 is connected with the bottom 1,the strip 8 has three thin tongues 14 located at the heel, waist andfront respectively; these tongues are obtained by cutting the stripalong three sides and by slightly bending along the fourth side; thus,the tongues project slightly downwards; the tongue of the front beingdirected forwards whilst the tongues of the heel and the waist areorientated rearwardly.

The strip 13 of the bottom has three slots 15 located opposite thetongues; one of the edges of each slot is sunken and the other israised, so as to facilitate the penetration of the corresponding tongue.In addition, the upper surface of the bottom is hollowed out so as tomake housings between said latter and the strip 13 whichreceive thetongues via the slots 15.

It is a simple matter to assembly the inner shoe assembly 2 on thebottom 1. Infact, after having engaged the two rear tongues 14 in thecorresponding slots 15, it is sufficient to bend the insole downwardlyat both ends, then, when the free end of the front tongue is in the slotlocated opposite, to flatten said insole until said front tongue hascompletely penetrated into its housmg.

It is important to note that when walking, running, jumping, goingupstairs, etc., the user, on bending his foot, bends the insole 7 andbottom 1 upwardly at both ends. Under these conditions, it is impossiblefor the tongues 14 to come out involuntarily.

Of course, the strips 8 and 13 are not indispensable. Any techniqueenabling tongues 14 to be flexibly and solidly made beneath the insole7, and housings accessible by slots 15 to be made in the bottom 1, isperfectly suitable for carryingout the invention. For example, theinsole and at least the upper surface of the bottom may be made from alaminate of synthetic material and fibre glass fabric.

All the outer dressings 3 (FIG. 2) that may be assembled on the shoeassembly 1-2 comprise, whatever their final form, colour, decoration,etc., an upper 16 connected to a supple bottom 17 having windows 18 forthe passage of the tongues 14.

Since an outer dressing 3 is fitted onto the inner shoe assembly 2, itis sufficient to proceed as indicated hereinbefore for temporarily butfirmly connecting said inner shoe assembly with the bottom 1; the bottom17 of the outer dressing is then interposed between the insole 7 of theinner shoe assembly and the top surface of the bottom 1.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment that has just beendescribed, since various modifications may be made thereto withoutdeparting from its scope.

In particular, the dismountable locking means may be of another type,for example constituted by thin lateral straps.

The invention is applicable to footwear.

What I claim is:

l. A shoe which is transformable simply by substituting one of itselements, wherein said shoe comprises three independent componentsconstituted by a bottom comprising a wearing sole and a heel, an innershoe assembly comprising an insole integral with a complete lining, andan outer dressing chosen from a series created for its variety, thisouter dressing comprising a visible upper extended by a lower inset partto allow it to be fitted ontothe inner shoe assembly and whereindismountable connecting means are provided between the insole and thebottom.

2. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insole of the inner shoeassembly includes three thin tongues located at the heel, waist andfront respectively, the first two being directed rparwardly and thethird forwardly, and the bottom defines three housings on the topsurface thereof accessible through three slots formed therein forreceiving the tongues of the inner shoe assembly by bending said innershoe assembly downwardly at its opposite ends.

3. A shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tongues are cut, so as toproject slightly, from a resistant but flexible sheet fixed beneath theinsole of the inner shoe assembly and another flexible sheet having saidslots formed therein is fixed to the bottom so that the slots that itpresents are located above recesses made in this bottom, giving accessto the above-mentioned housings for the tongues.

4. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper of the outer dressingis integral with a supple bottom having windows for the passage of thetongues of the inner shoe assembly.

5. A shoe as claimed in any one of claims 1, wherein a shank isincorporated in the bottom and/or in the insole of the inner shoeassembly.

6. A shoe as claimed in claim 3 wherein said flexible sheets are formedfrom flexible steel sheets.

1. A shoe which is transformable simply by substituting one of itselements, wherein said shoe comprises three independent componentsconstituted by a bottom comprising a wearing sole and a heel, an innershoe assembly comprising an insole integral with a complete lining, andan outer dressing chosen from a series created for its variety, thisouter dressing comprising a visible upper extended by a lower inset partto allow it to be fitted onto the inner shoe assembly and whereindismountable connecting means are provided between the insole and thebottom.
 2. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the insole of the innershoe assembly includes three thin tongues located at the heel, waist andfront respectively, the first two being directed rparwardly and thethird forwardly, and the bottom defines three housings on the topsurface thereof accessible through three slots formed therein forreceiving the tongues of the inner shoe assembly by bending said innershoe assembly downwardly at its opposite ends.
 3. A shoe as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the tongues are cut, so as to project slightly, from aresistant but flexible sheet fixed beneath the insole of the inner shoeassembly and another flexible sheet having said slots formed therein isfixed to the bottom so that the slots that it presents are located aboverecesses made in this bottom, giving access to the above-mentionedhousings for the tongues.
 4. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein theupper of the outer dressing is integral with a supple bottom havingwindows for the passage of the tongues of the inner shoe assembly.
 5. Ashoe as claimed in any one of claims 1, wherein a shank is incorporatedin the bottom and/or in the insole of the inner shoe assembly.
 6. A shoeas claimed in claim 3 wherein said flexible sheets are formed fromflexible steel sheets.